When I first reviewed Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD for the iPhone for some other website on its way out,the app had the name of Grand Lite. Undergoing a name change, but still developed by Peterb, this is still an app worth checking out for anyone interested in tickling the “ivories” on their touchscreen.
Enjoy the review:
Using a smartphone as a camera is a common, but formerly atypical, use of a device designed to make phone calls. Using a cellphone as a piano, on the other hand, is an oddity made possible on the iPhone and the iPhone Touch through its multitouch interface.
Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD is available on the App Store as one of many quality free downloadable piano apps for the iPhone. Developed by Peterb, this virtual piano features a clear sound and a large, easy to play keyboard – for a smartphone!
Virtuoso Piano Free 2 HD Features
- Large keys allow for easy multitouch play
- Two buttons and scroll bar to change octaves
- Allows display of key labels
- Plays along with iTunes
A Clear Piano Sound
Virtuoso Piano Free features high-quality samples over all the octaves of a grand piano. Both the highest tinkling notes and the lowest rumbling chords sound full and authentic. Even without earphones, the app’s tone is clear and powerful.
Virtuoso Piano Free lets you tickle the ivories on the iPhone. Copyright Peterb.
When playing along with a song from iTunes, the piano sound cuts through quite effectively. Playing along with iTunes is a great feature, as it is a lot of fun to try and play along with the favorite tracks from one’s iTunes library. It is also helpful for figuring out a song’s melody and chord progressions.
Play it Again, Sam
While obviously not as easy to play as a real piano, Virtuoso Piano Free’s large keys make it a breeze to play intervals or melodies with one’s thumbs or even triads using one hand. Since the iPhone’s screen can only display one octave at a time, playing any more than four notes at once is difficult.
Two buttons or a scroll bar are used to switch between octaves. The scroll bar is more effective when wanting to jump a few octaves at a time. Unfortunately the scroll bar doesn’t recognize a swipe gesture, so tapping it is the only way to get it to change.
A settings screen toggles the iTunes play-along feature, the display of key labels, and the placement of the octave buttons – useful for left-handed players. The global volume for Grand Lite is also set on this screen.
Virtuoso Piano Free is definitely a fun download and one of the better piano apps available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Its musical applications compared to a real piano are limited, but it is a great tool for learning songs out of one’s iTunes library and a fun way to kill a few minutes playing a melody or two.